The Gwacheon National Science Museum offers a fascinating window into the Ice Age through its exhibition on the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius).
The display features an imposing reconstruction of an adult mammoth, which could reach 3.5 meters in length and 2.5 tons in weight, along with the characteristics that allowed it to survive in frigid climates, such as its dense fur and a thick layer of fat.
Alongside this representation, the jewel of the collection is the real skeleton of "TIMA", a young woolly mammoth. Discovered in the Omsk region of southern Siberia, this specimen was approximately 7 years old and measured 1.8 meters in height at the shoulder. A crucial detail confirming its authenticity is that the skeleton is composed of more than 80% real bone, making it a genuine specimen and not a replica. Its affectionate name, "TIMA," was chosen by the public in a contest and is a combination of the English words "Tiny" and "Mammoth".
• Woolly Mammoth
• Mamut lanudo, elefante lanudo, mamut de la tundra
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Mammuthus †
Species: M. primigenius †
The Woolly Mammoth is an extinct species of elephant that was widespread during the last Ice Age. A close relative of modern elephants, it was famously adapted to survive in the cold, harsh environments of the Pleistocene epoch. These adaptations included a body covered in long, shaggy hair, a thick layer of subcutaneous fat for insulation, and ears that were significantly smaller than those of today’s elephants to minimize heat loss. Adults could stand about 3.5 meters tall and possessed enormous, curved tusks that could reach over 4 meters in length.
These massive herbivores roamed the vast, cold, dry grasslands known as the "mammoth steppe," which stretched across North America, Europe, and Asia. Their diet consisted of grasses, shrubs, and the branches of trees. While most populations went extinct around 10,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of climate change and human hunting, some small, isolated groups survived on remote islands until as recently as 4,000 years ago.
Camera: Canon EOS 800D / Rebel T7i
Lens: TAMRON SP 28-75mm F/2.8 Di A09E
Photo Taken: April 30, 2025
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